Garrett cut the letters out of MDF and covered the front surface with AC ducting/aluminum tape. He bought 4″ diamond plate tape rolls. The tape really helped reflect the lights off the letters.

He used ordinary lighting sockets and 14 gauge wiring to wire it all together. Garrett got the normal, 60W lightbulbs that you can find anywhere.

He used paint thinner on a rag to quickly wash the wattage print off–to give the bulbs a cleaner look. Then he used a separate dimming circuit for every letter so he could light each up independently from the other.

17 responses to Beautiful in Lights

This set is beautiful. Nice job. The video really shows off what the pit balls look like when you light them from top and bottom. Keep up the great work and don’t be surprised if I borrow a few elements.

I found the light sockets online. I forget what web site. But they are white porcelain sockets. They are mounted with 2 screws, they have 2 simple contact screws for your wiring, and a porcelain piece screws onto the socket part to conceal the wiring. It’s actually not the cheapest rout to go. There are plastic ones at Lowes that are much cheaper, but then you just have to paint them. Hope this helps.

Safety Warning

Please look into the safety of these stage designs for yourself. Fire and rigging safety is very important, and different states/countries have different fire codes. Refer to this safety article and always ensure you use fire-retardant materials or treatments.